Automate field data collection,
quality control and client delivery
for high efficiency, straight-through business processing.
Reduce paperwork, rework and duplication of effort.
Improve productivity, efficiency and scalability.
Reduce cycle times.
Build long-term customer relationships.
Get paid faster.
Protect and even build your margins.
Reduce fuel costs.
Deliver fast, high quality
results to your clients and
build enduring relationships.
Improve your profitability and
accelerate cash receipts.
The MetaField™ Story
In 2004, Braun Intertec Corporation began providing
smartphones to its professional, technical, and field
staff for direct mobile phone access to corporate
email, calendaring, scheduling, and the Web.
The response was so positive that Braun Intertec
began looking at ways to improve field information
management using the same devices. At the time,
field technicians filled out paper forms and returned
them to the office, where word processing personnel
transcribed the hand-written forms into client
reports, in some cases waiting for lab analysis results
before sending the paperwork on for engineer and
project manager review. The process was prone
to mistakes, labor intensive and often required
significant rework to help ensure quality.
The Braun Intertec IT staff knew there had to be a
better way and wrote a business case for developing
a smartphone-based field information management
system that would provide faster, more accurate
results, as well as a distinct competitive advantage.
Braun Intertec management liked the idea and gave
the go ahead to begin development. The results
soon became MetaField—a comprehensive platform
for “straight-through” field data collection, lab
integration, quality control and client report delivery.
With the initial implementation of MetaField,
Braun Intertec realized significant improvements
in service delivery, quality and cycle time. The firm
also saw efficiency increases of 10–15 percent
from reductions in rework, transcription labor and
transportation costs.
Seven years later, Braun Intertec Corporation created
Agile Frameworks, a wholly owned subsidiary
created to help other multidisciplinary engineering
firms realize the business benefits of MetaField,
as well as other products and services. Now, Agile
Frameworks makes it possible for your company to
achieve the business benefits provided by the first
truly comprehensive field information management
system built from the ground up for the Architecture/
Engineering/Construction (AEC) and testing industry.
Introducing, MetaField.
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Compete on cost with anyone.
Conventional wisdom says it’s tough to do all three. But that
was before MetaField. The first true Field Information
Management System (FIMS) for the Architecture/Engineering/
Construction (AEC) industry, MetaField:
•
Automates field testing, sampling and recording of
observations. Results using the full set of American
Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and American
Association for State Highway Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) standards are entered by field technicians
into most smartphone or tablet devices and recorded in
real time into MetaField and lab systems.
•
Automates quality control, project management and
client reporting. Project data and test results are available
in real time for engineering and project management
review. Reports are generated and delivered to clients on
demand with a few simple clicks.
•
Reduces cycle time, protects your margins and
enhances your bottom line. MetaField enables you to
provide Construction Materials Testing (CMT) services
faster and with higher quality than your competitors as
well as to scale up to large projects while minimizing
headcount growth. And because you work faster and
more efficiently, you get paid faster and can compete on
cost while maintaining your margins.
In fact, MetaField automates and integrates core business
processes for engineering, testing and environmental
consulting firms in a straight-through fashion—from field data
collection to review and quality control to client reporting.
Even better, MetaField is surprisingly affordable. As a
subscription-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), MetaField
requires no upfront equipment investment, since it runs on most
consumer-grade smartphone or tablet devices and has minimal
maintenance cost or administrative overhead compared with
traditional systems. Updates and maintenance are part of the
service. That can mean an ROI for high-volume engineering,
testing and consulting firms in as little as 3–6 months.
MetaField delivers a “straight-through” business process.
MetaField enables you to move your business from manual, document-centric processes to data-centric straightthrough processes. The results couldn’t be more dramatic for high-volume engineering, testing and environmental
consulting firms. Simply put, you compress the time between business development and money in the bank. And you
provide fast, high-quality client services with fewer resources, so you maintain your margins and profitability even in
the toughest competitive environment.
Move from paper to automation.
MetaField automates field-testing and
data-collection processes. Instead of filling
out paper or electronic forms, technicians
enter data directly and only once, using a
compatible smartphone, laptop, or tablet
device. Data then flows into your lab
system using Agile Framework adapters
available for many leading systems.
Reduce duplication of effort while increasing quality.
MetaField automatically utilizes data from project
accounting or management applications to help field
technicians associate delivery service transactions with the
right client without the need to re-enter project numbers and
client information on paper or electronic forms. That makes
project delivery faster and improves accuracy.
Reduce cycle times; get paid faster.
What’s straight-through processing?
Instead of maintaining a stand-alone system that requires redundant data entry and
maintenance, MetaField integrates with project accounting, CRM, and LIMS for true
end-to-end business processing. Using MetaField allows you to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reduce paperwork, rework and duplication of effort;
Improve productivity, efficiency and scalability;
Reduce cycle times;
Reduce fleet fuel costs;
Build long-term customer relationship;
Get paid faster; and
Protect and even build your margins.
Engineers and project managers have real-time
visibility into test results and inspection data
as soon as it is collected—not if and when
technicians finish their paperwork. Clients
get reports faster since ASTM and AASHTO
standard client reports can be generated
directly without re-entering data and published
directly to most report delivery systems—paper,
email, FTP sites, or customer portals. Faster
delivery of high-quality, standardized reports
can dramatically reduce invoicing cycles.
Bottom line: you get paid faster and your clients
are happier.
That’s the difference MetaField can make.
3
How MetaField works
Designed for your business
MetaField starts with a simple and intuitive device-independent interface available for
PCs (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer), Android, and iOS devices. Field technicians,
engineers, and project managers can start to use it immediately with the devices they
already know and use. That means no upfront investment in specialized equipment and
results in a short learning curve. Data is entered into MetaField once and flows into your
core systems in a straight-through fashion.
Field
Mobile field technicians click or touch to access data collection
screens designed to meet ASTM or AASHTO standards for data
recording. That means significant reduction in filling out paper
forms, retyping data into separate systems and spending days
getting project deliverables into the right hands. Project information
screens are generated directly from project management or project
accounting systems, reducing duplication of effort and the need to
re-enter data for communication purposes. Technicians have realtime access to this information in the field—without paperwork.
Quality Control
Engineers and project managers click for real-time visibility of field
observations and test results. Reports are generated easily by
selecting discrete test results or field activities.
Delivery
MetaField is an all-in-one report repository, report generation and
report delivery system. Users click or touch to query the MetaField
report database, review report statuses, generate consolidated
reports, and email or publish reports to client portals or FTP sites.
4
Field entry interface is optimized for
mobile geotechnical field workers.
MetaField is designed from the ground up to meet the needs
of engineering, testing, and environmental consulting firms that
conduct significant operations in the field, requiring the remote
gathering of test, sample, and observation data. Geotechnical and
construction materials testing requirements, based on ASTM and
AASHTO benchmarks and standards, are closely represented in
MetaField functionality. Field technicians will feel completely at
home in MetaField.
Proctor
Unlike generic applications, MetaField is based on specific
geotechnical and construction materials testing requirements.
Sample Location
MetaField drop-down values are configured precisely to the way
you describe locations and other company-specific factors.
Analysis Result
MetaField delivers activity-specific testing functionality.
Perform Test
Discrete data sets are captured in the relational database,
so manual entry on paper forms is reduced and results flow
automatically into your other enterprise systems, such as a LIMS.
MetaField is periodically updated to meet the
latest ASTM and AASHTO standards. And since
MetaField is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service
(SaaS), your MetaField system is always at the latest
version that meets your needs. There is no need
to engage your busy IT staff to implement updates
or review ASTM or AASHTO standard operating
procedures to ensure compliance.
5
Save Report
Select and click to create standard ASTM
and AASHTO compliant reports from data
entered directly in the field.
Real-time Results
As field technicians enter data, engineers, project managers and quality assurance
personnel monitor their work in real time. Test status, test failures and test results
are visible as soon as they are entered. Waiting for paperwork will no longer cause
delays. Personnel can monitor and review real-time quality-control data securely,
anytime and anywhere access to the Internet is available.
Real-time visibility enhances quality control.
Typically, the longer it takes problems to be addressed, the worse they become. By
providing real-time visibility of field observations and test results, MetaField enables
engineers and project managers to continuously monitor and review the status of
testing and inspection work. Project management engineers and professionals have
greater quality control and minimize potential risk by no longer waiting on paper
reporting to identify and address issues.
Data-driven vs. Document-driven.
Ever wonder how many tests are performed across your firm, for a specific period or
a specific client? Because MetaField manages discrete transaction data in a relational
database, your data can be repurposed over time for production management,
business intelligence, data mining, and OLAP applications. This feature stands in
direct contrast to document-based systems that use electronic forms.
6
Report Generation, Report Repository, Report
Delivery. All in one system.
When you rely on paper or even electronic forms, data is often consumed from the
field in a manner that requires re-entering data in multiple forms and then finally into
the report formats delivered to clients. MetaField’s straight-through processing means
data collected in the field flows into standard ASTM or AASHTO compliant client
reports directly as an output of its database. All you do is review the data, select
the transactions you wish to see on a report and click a button to generate a report.
There is no duplication of data entry or effort. Quality is improved by having a single
point of data entered once by the originator. Word processing duties are dramatically
reduced, so highly valued personnel can be reassigned to higher-value tasks.
Publish
Create Report
Select and click to preview
a report prior to delivery.
As an option, the “Publish” function enables
you to select a report and click to publish to
a variety of client delivery mechanisms.
Report Consolidation
Signed By
A few clicks create sorted,
consolidated reports from a
collection of discrete reports.
As an option, MetaField enables users to select and
click to apply an encrypted digital signature to one or
more reports. Imagine the ability to digitally encrypt
25 or more reports at a time with your personal
signature and PE stamp!
And MetaField is much more than a report generation system. It creates a secure
repository of all your reports, so archived reports can be accessed in seconds.
Query the MetaField database to view reports based on time periods, clients and
other variables. MetaField can be configured for your report dissemination and
delivery requirements, allowing you to select reports with one click. Then, MetaField
can publish reports to almost any mechanism you use for report delivery—print/mail,
email, FTP sites or client portals on your website. There’s never been a faster way to
deliver reports to clients and reduce project delivery cycle time while continuing to
provide exemplary quality and customer service.
7
MetaField
Custom integration options:
Business features and functionality:
•
Microsoft Excel custom spreadsheets
•
ElmTree® CMT LIMS
Deltek Vision
•
Field and engineering/QC user interfaces
•
•
Concrete cylinder sample and field data tracking
(3X6, 4X8, 6X12 cylinders)
Technology roadmap:
•
Soil density (compaction) field testing with built-in
calculations for density and moisture
•
Daily and Observation reports
•
Special Inspections
•
Daily standardization of nuclear density gauges
•
•
Project communications field summary
•
Workflow management to aid in high-volume testing
operations
Complete sample tracking and COC for most CMT lab
disciplines such as: soils, grout, masonry, prisms, Boring
Logs, etc.
•
Nondestructive examination
•
Test failure/exception tracking
•
Dispatch management
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ASTM and AASHTO standard reporting
•
Time sheet management
•
Available AgileStamp™ digital signature (personal
signatures and Professional Engineer registration
stamps) integration (batch/single)
System requirements and specifications:
Integration adaptors available for:
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Cellular data or Internet connected compatible PC,
Android or iOS device
•
Google Chrome 14, FireFox 6, or Microsoft Internet
Explorer® 8
•
PAS™ proposal and project administration
•
AgilePort™
Implementation/Integration Requirements
•
Microsoft Dynamics SL
•
BST
•
Microsoft SharePoint 2010
MetaField is designed as a tool to be integrated with other
company-wide applications such as project accounting
systems, CRM, or LIMS.
•
QestLab LIMS
•
GeoSystems
®
The MetaField Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution is
a subscription-based service that is billed monthly for
each subscriber and it pays for itself very quickly. For a
comprehensive, no-cost return on investment (ROI) analysis,
please contact
Doug Bonestroo, VP of Business Development, at
dbonestroo@agileframeworks.com or 612-202-9011.
Agile Frameworks, LLC | 1826 Buerkle Road | St. Paul, MN 55110 | Toll-Free: 1-800-779-1196 Local: 612-202-9011 Fax: 651-487-1812
www.agileframeworks.com